Manipur unrest: Draped in Black, Mouths Sealed, Khurai Youth’s Silent Protest Speaks Louder
She then clarified the position of Khurai Pana’s youth. “We, the youth of Khurai Pana, stand in solidarity with all CSOs and fellow youth of Manipur, provided their protests align with democratic principles.” Ms. Mangang proceeded to enumerate the specific demands of their rally directed at the government. These included: the implementation of the NRC in Manipur, facilitating the return and resettlement of displaced individuals to their hometowns, a clear stance against granting separate administration, a firm commitment to eradicate narco-terrorism from Manipur, and an immediate guarantee to halt crimes against women and innocent children.
In response to whether the Meira Paibi from the Khurai area were informed about the appeal made by certain women to prohibit the rally, one Meira Paibi, who had actively participated in the protest, conveyed her unawareness. “We hadn’t heard of any such announcement. If we had, and it was a consensus decision, why would we be here supporting the youth?” she questioned.
She insinuated that some factions within the Meira Paibis, possibly influenced by political interests, might have made the announcement without a broader consensus. “Decisions taken under political influence without our knowledge are not representative of all Meira Paibis,” she emphasized.
Further solidifying the stance of the Meira Paibis, she said, “We stand firmly with our youth. We recognize that this is not a trivial or personal matter, but a significant issue concerning our state. We are and will always be at the forefront to support their initiatives.”
She then transitioned to criticizing the state government’s handling of the situation. “The unrest in Manipur began on May 3, and it’s been five long months. Realistically, the government had the means to resolve this within a mere 10 days. Instead, they’ve continued to prevaricate and mislead the public,” she lamented.
